Honda Yuasa racer Matt Neal has already visited Knockhill on several occasions this year; but not in the capacity you would think! He’s been here to watch his son Henry compete in the Scottish Legends series, in his debut car racing season. Duncan Vincent caught up with Matt and Flash at the weekend’s SMRC meeting on Knockhill FM and here’s what the pair had to say about this weekend’s BTCC event.
Henry in Scottish Legends Championship action!
“Some parents get really nervous when they watch their kids out on track. I think it’s great. The Scottish Legends is a great place to start and learn his craft,” said Neal, of son Henry’s racing expolits.
Neal also returns to Knockhill this weekend as the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship rolls into Scotland for round seven of the 2014 Championship schedule; and he knows that the 118 point deficit to Championship leader Colin Turkington, realistically rules him out of the title race. That said, Neal is a team player and he’ll be going all out to ensure team-mate Gordon Shedden leaves with solid points haul this weekend.
Matt Neal sampling podium success earlier this year!
Neal, like many of his fellow BTCC racers this week, highlights BTCC qualifying as one of the most important factors to having a successful BTCC weekend at Knockhill.
“Qualifying is going to be vitally important, with 31 cars on the grid, l’d expect qualifying to be just as good a show as the racing on Sunday.
“The Civic Tourer excels in fast, flowing corners and that’s not really what Knockhill is about. You really have to commit around here, you have to attack the kerbs and push those track limits to get the best times.
“This season, the new track limit rules have come into play, but that won’t stop either me or Flash from grabbing some serious air this weekend, and that, will be spectacular for race fans,” concluded Neal.
Shedden heads out on track with Neal riding shotgun!
Home hero, Gordon Shedden lines up for his home round 2nd in the Championship standings behind the eBay Motors BWM of Colin Turkington. Turkington breezed to two race wins last year and the BMW is ideally equipped to dominate the Knockhill round once-again this year. Turkington though, will have to endure an eight-place grid qualifying-penalty this weekend, hardly an ideal scenario for the former Champion.
“Matt’s had a bit of a shocker luck-wise this year, and given the Championship’s competitiveness – there really is no margin for error.
“The racing at Knockhill is always a bit special. There will be a fantastic atmosphere and the action will be as spectacular as ever, come race day,” commented 2012 BTCC Champion, Gordon Shedden.
Shedden expects more 2-wheeled action this weekend!
The BTCC action kicks off on Saturday (23rd August) with a series of warm up and practice sessions for the BTCC racers; before that all-important BTCC qualification session at 3.05pm.
Sunday (24th August) will see the BTCC stars take to the Knockhill track for three action-packed races, alongside a number of support classes. Tickets for the event can be pre-booked via the Knockhill.com website or by calling 01383 723337 – from 3pm today all pre-booked tickets will be subject to box office collection.
Tickets will also be available throughout the weekend at the gate!
Book tickets now and save money!
Pics courtesy of BTCC.net